Environmental Engineering Degrees and Career Education

Environmental engineers draw from additional scientific disciplines beyond engineering, such as chemistry and biology, to develop solutions to manage society's needs from, and impact on, the environment. This can include such diverse activities as conducting studies detailing the potential impact to the environment of an engineering or development project; supervising the water supply or sewage treatment for a city; or managing the disposal of hazardous materials or the reclamation of contaminated land.

Education, Training and Degrees in Environmental Engineering

Virtually all entry-level positions in the engineering industry require at least a bachelor's degree, and an advanced degree is mandatory for many research and teaching positions. At this time, more than 360 colleges in the U.S. have accredited programs leading to a B.S. in an engineering discipline. In addition, approximately 230 colleges currently offer associate degrees in engineering technology, which is oriented more toward practical application than theory. As in any profession, the more advanced and specific the degree, the higher the potential salary and the greater the chances for success.

In addition to a degree, all states require that engineers be licensed. This licensing is accomplished by meeting specific requirements which usually include a significant term of on-the-job experience (often as long as four years) and passing a detailed exam administered by the relevant state department. Once these requirements are fulfilled, the engineer is formally recognized by the state as a licensed Professional Engineer.

Find out more information on Engineering degrees and certifications.

Explore Career Opportunities in Environmental Engineering

According to Department of Labor Statistics, more than 1.4 million people were employed in all engineering fields in 2004, of which about 49,000 were environmental engineers.

Salaries and wages for environmental engineers can differ widely depending on such factors as location, the state of the economy, and the education level of the jobholder. The average salary for an environmental engineer in 2004 was $66,480, with a range running from a low of under $40,620 to a high of more than $100,000.

The Department of Labor predicts that, overall, engineering jobs will grow at a rate comparable with all other industries over the next decade, but that job prospects will be especially good for a few specialties, including environmental engineering.

Below are a few of the most popular specializations in the field of environmental engineering.

Air Pollution Control
Environmental engineers in this field attempt to develop solutions to the problem of air pollution, from industry or vehicles. They study methods for both prevention and recovery

Industrial Hygiene
These environmental scientists concentrate on the health and safety of industrial workers, assuring that the facilities in which they work are not dangerous, or hazardous to their health.

Waste Management
Those working in this field design, test, and maintain waste treatment facilities of all sorts. They might also evaluate the extent and impact of a potential hazard, then advise on treatment, or assist in developing laws and industrial regulations to prevent toxic accidents. Subdivisions concentrate on hazardous waste management, toxic materials control, wastewater management and solid waste disposal.

Water Supply Engineering
Designing and maintaining municipal water treatment, collection and distribution to assure a steady supply of safe drinking water is the province of this discipline.

Public Health
Engineers in this field might perform environmental impact studies of proposed construction sites to determine and limit the damage to the local ecology. They also might study and lobby for regulations limiting such global dangers as acid rain and global warming.

Consultant
Environmental engineers can also work independently, as hired consultants, advising clients about what they need to do to comply with anti-pollution laws, statues and regulations, or assist them in cleaning up hazardous waste on polluted sites to reclaim the land and conform to all applicable environmental laws and regulations.

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